Morning glories have sprouted. Looks like we might lose one or two herb plants, but the rest look like they are hanging on despite our cool nights.

The other seeds are still under the warm soil working.

Now, we put in the summer plants. If we started these from seeds right now they would never make it. Best to find a good source (I like Kevin at the Parker Farmer’s Market right as you walk in.) and let them get the nightshades up and going.

In the book, Wisdom of a Radish, by Lynda Hopkins all of her tomato starts die (as they do often) and she had to go buy plants to put in the ground. She mutters to herself, “Only f#@k up farmers have to buy starts!”

Now every year when Doug and I buy our starts we chant that. We don’t mind. Sometimes a farmer has to rely on other farmers to ensure success. No shame.

Dig the holes 1 1/2 feet apart for peppers and eggplants, 2 feet for tomatoes. Then walk back down rows and pop in starts complete with labels. Then walk down aisle with a bag of organic garden soil and fill the holes, patting around the plants so they stand up nice. Water well then add straw around the bases to keep them upright and allow less moisture to escape. Put snazzy looking tomato cage over. Or not. I am still saving up for the other 28. I planted 20 tomatoes, 12 various peppers, and 4 eggplants. That may seem like a lot but we want tomatoes as deep into winter as we can get!

I have gone without and had a brilliant crop, they just run all over the ground and tempt animals and black spots. Anything could work that has a little strength. We have a week to think about it. In the meantime, enjoy your garden and your Memorial weekend!

It’s interesting to see where other people are at in their farming. In our climate we have tomatoes already on the vine waiting to ripen. You are just starting yours. When we move, you and I will probably have similar growing seasons. 🙂

Katie Lynn Sanders is an urban Farmgirl, writer, Mama, Grammie, and herbalist. Katie lives with her husband, Gandalf the Great Pyrenees, kitties, and chickens with names in a hundred year old adobe in Pueblo. You can find all of Katie's books at www.AuthorKatieSanders.com